New York City Marathon canceled less than two days before event

NEW YORK — Under growing pressure as thousands still
shivered from Sandy, the New York City Marathon was canceled Friday by Mayor
Michael Bloomberg after mounting criticism that this was not the time for a
race.

With people in storm-ravaged areas shivering without electricity
and the death toll in the city at more than 40, many New Yorkers recoiled at the
prospect of police officers being assigned to protect a marathon, storm victims
being evicted from hotels to make way for runners, and big generators humming
along at the finish-line tents in Central Park.

Around 47,500 runners from around the globe had been expected to
take part in the 26.2-mile event Sunday, with more than 1 million spectators
usually lining the route for the world’s largest marathon. The race had been
scheduled to start in Staten Island, one of the storm’s hardest-hit places.

Bloomberg had pressed ahead with plans run the marathon on
schedule, but opposition intensified quickly Friday afternoon from the city
controller, Manhattan borough president and sanitation workers.

Finally, the mayor backed down about three hours later.

“We would not want a cloud to hang over the race or its
participants, and so we have decided to cancel it,” Bloomberg said in a
statement. “We cannot allow a controversy over an athletic event — even one as
meaningful as this — to distract attention away from all the critically
important work that is being done to recover from the storm and get our city
back on track.”

The cancellation means there won’t be another NYC Marathon until
next year.

Bloomberg called the marathon an “integral part of New York
City’s life for 40 years” and “an event tens of thousands of New Yorkers
participate in and millions more watch.”

He still insisted that holding the race would not require
diverting resources from the recovery effort, but understood the level of
friction.

“It is clear it that it has become the source of controversy and
division,” Bloomberg said. “The marathon has always brought our city together
and inspired us with stories of courage and determination.

Bloomberg’s decision came just a day after he appealed to the
grit and resiliency of New Yorkers, saying “This city is a city where we have to
go on.”

The nationally televised race that winds through the city’s five
boroughs and has been held annually since 1970 — it was held in 2001, about two
months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Mary Wittenberg, president of the organizing New York Road
Runners, said it was the right move to cancel.

“This is what we need to do and the right thing at this time,”
she said.

“It’s been a week where we worked very closely with the mayor’s
office and felt very strongly, both of us together, that on Tuesday it seemed
that the best thing for New York on Sunday would be moving forward. As the days
went on, just today it got to the point where that was no longer the case.”

Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent
Association — the police department’s largest union — called the decision to
cancel the marathon “a wise choice.”

Wittenberg said about 10,000 runners were expected to drop out
after the storm arrived.

As of now, NYRR is sticking to its policy of no refunds for the
runners, but will guarantee entry to next year’s marathon. But Wittenberg said
they will review that stance.

Eric Jones said he was part of a group from the Netherlands that
collected $1.5 million to donate to a children’s cancer charity if the runners
competed.

“We understand, but maybe the decision could have been made
earlier, before we traveled this far,” said Jones, whose group came to New York
a day earlier.

Steve Brune, a Manhattan entrepreneur, was set to run his fourth
NYC Marathon.

“I’m disappointed, but I can understand why it’s more important
to use our resources for those who have lost a lot,” he said.

Brune said he thinks foreign runners who traveled for the race
will be even more disappointed.

“When you have a significant amount of people voicing real pain
and unhappiness over its running, you have to hear that. You have to take that
into consideration,” said Howard Wolfson, deputy mayor for government affairs
and communications.

“Something that is such a celebration of the best of New York
can’t become divisive. That is not good for the city now as we try to complete
our recovery effort, and it is not good for the marathon in the long run,” he
said.

Earlier in the day, race preparations seemed under way as normal.

White tents where the runners would meet were already erected.
Plastic crates lined the park’s wall for two blocks, with tangles of electric
wires and other setup equipment where workers buzzed around. A few TV news crews
set up camp.

Along the race route in Queens, a couple of marathon banners hung
from street lamps.

In Brooklyn, the effects of the storm were more apparent. One gas
station had a long line of cars extending down the block. Another had dozens of
people standing on the sidewalk, clutching red fuel cans.

At the midtown New Yorker Hotel, the lobby was filled with
anguished runners, some crying and others with puffy eyes. In one corner, a
group of Italian runners watched the news with blank looks.

“I have no words,” said Roberto Dell’Olmo, from Vercelli, Italy.
Then later: “I would like that the money I give from the marathon goes to
victims.”

Gisela Clausen, of Munich, told her fellow runners about the
cancellation as they walked in.

“You don’t understand. We spend a year on this. We don’t eat what
we want. We don’t drink what we want. And we’re on the streets for hours. We
live for this marathon, but we understand,” she said.

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